1921: Wife has him jailed; Dog, still faithful, in same cell

02/02/1921

Castulo Bustamante works – but only occasionally, according to his wife. Most of the time he frequents “the bad places,” she says, and his fondness for tequila and the effects to be derived from that seductive distillation are such that when the favorite drink of Old Mexico is not available he will even condescend to drink the red liquor of the Americano. When he has absorbed either in sufficient quantities his conduct is such as to contribute to the miserableness of his wife and all humans with whom he comes in contact.

That is the story she told to Judge Pollock in corporation court yesterday and the telling through down on Castulo the severe condemnation of the court, along with a $25 fine, which means 25 days in the chain gang. There was no human sympathy from the court or the spectators for Castulo Bustamante.

But Castulo was not friendless. One there was in the courtroom whose heart was filled with happiness. Here was the joy of reunion with a loved one after a night of separation. Her dark black eyes looked lovingly at the forlorn figure standing at the bar and her voice gave expression to the delight at having found him after hours of search.

She is a little, white bull terrier, keen and alert, with her ears cocked straight up and her bobbed tail kept in continuous motion in anticipation of future joy in the presence of the one to whom she had given her live and allegiance. She followed the string of prisoners from the courtroom to the city jail, where the iron door again separated them.

The wife of Castulo is satisfied with the judgment of the court, which was to separate her for 25 days from her spouse, tried to persuade the dog to accompany her home, but the little terrier took her position outside the iron door and refused to leave. After a vigil of several hours the door swung open and the chain gang prisoners, who had been sentenced yesterday, were transferred to that section of the jail where they are kept.

This was her opportunity and before she could be stopped, like a streak, she went through the open door and Castulo, who had not yet recovered from the effects of a tequila debauch, and the one thing in the world that loved him were united.

Jailer Du Chesne had observed the little dog and its actions and last night there was one prisoner in the city jail for which the jailer held no commitment. The little white terrier will accompany Castulo when he goes out on the chain gang this morning.